The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[Bonsist]

I al

Hey ya'll....heads up...the Line 6 POD Go is legit.

More to come! Lots of tweaking...so many fun things!

I always remembered Line 6 Pods being garbage but lately I've been hearing the complete opposite which is good to hear they've been seemingly improving that product. May try & consider it myself when I go to try preamps. Glad there's been plenty threads about it getting bumped lately.

 

[chadhargis]

So, are you ready to say that Oracle+LA2A+RNDI is your conclusion to the first 251 pages of the thread?

Oh, thank you for your heroic contributions!

I'm always evolving. The modeling stuff I tried before was so complicated and more like black magic than anything. The Pod Go was designed to be easy, but still flexible, with the tones from the Helix.

There are a lot more tones in the Pod than any analog pedals. And the fact that you can reorder pedals with the push of a button without patch cables or power cables. You can add and subtract effects or EQ settings. It's awesome.

I al

I always remembered Line 6 Pods being garbage but lately I've been hearing the complete opposite which is good to hear they've been seemingly improving that product. May try & consider it myself when I go to try preamps. Glad there's been plenty threads about it getting bumped lately.

Yeah. Since being acquired by Yamaha, Line6 has become a very big player in modeling. The Helix and HX gear is very highly regarded.

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

The line 6 hx stomp is the best piece of gear i've got in like 10 years. And you don't have to use all the effects, just stay with eq, comp, preamps and have a great clean tone if you only like that.

 

[chadhargis]

The line 6 hx stomp is the best piece of gear i've got in like 10 years. And you don't have to use all the effects, just stay with eq, comp, preamps and have a great clean tone if you only like that.

Yes. I've already reached a point where when I switch back to my analog tube board it feels like it's missing something.

The tale of the tape for me is how it sounds in a mix and in a live setting. I'm not playing this weekend, but I am next, so that gives me a week to tweak it. The sound guy will tell me whether it sounds good or not.

I'm using the IR from the Shift Line Olympic...the 2 15 one. I always liked that cab sim but rarely used it because cab sims always seemed too dark and had a blanketed tone to them, but with the Pod Go there is so much tone shaping power you can boost or cut whatever tones you want. I'm also digging the "LA Studio Comp" model (which is a Teletronix LA-2A).

Perhaps the coolest thing is the way the amp sims respond to touch. If you play soft, you can get a nice clean tone, but dig in and you get that power tube growl. You can even dial in the amount of "hiss" you want in your tone....yes...amp hiss. Why? Who knows...but it's there. You can also skew the bias of the tubes to make them sound different. Most modeling stuff I've used has been sort of synthetic sounding, but this is behaving like a real amp...and even lets you do things you can't with the real amp.

I'm still playing, and I'll get some tones up soon.

 

[SteveC]

Hey ya'll....heads up...the Line 6 POD Go is legit.

More to come! Lots of tweaking...so many fun things!

I'm curious to hear more. The HX Stomp seems like it's a bit much for me. I don't know that I need the expression pedal but who knows...

 

[MascisMan]

Yes. I've already reached a point where when I switch back to my analog tube board it feels like it's missing something.

The tale of the tape for me is how it sounds in a mix and in a live setting. I'm not playing this weekend, but I am next, so that gives me a week to tweak it. The sound guy will tell me whether it sounds good or not.

I'm using the IR from the Shift Line Olympic...the 2 15 one. I always liked that cab sim but rarely used it because cab sims always seemed too dark and had a blanketed tone to them, but with the Pod Go there is so much tone shaping power you can boost or cut whatever tones you want. I'm also digging the "LA Studio Comp" model (which is a Teletronix LA-2A).

Perhaps the coolest thing is the way the amp sims respond to touch. If you play soft, you can get a nice clean tone, but dig in and you get that power tube growl. You can even dial in the amount of "hiss" you want in your tone....yes...amp hiss. Why? Who knows...but it's there. You can also skew the bias of the tubes to make them sound different. Most modeling stuff I've used has been sort of synthetic sounding, but this is behaving like a real amp...and even lets you do things you can't with the real amp.

I'm still playing, and I'll get some tones up soon.

I think the Stomp/Go sounds as good as anything else in the mix. It can be EQ'd to provide just about anything you need.

Did you try the Fullerton Nrm/Studio Tube DI setting I sent over? It sounds fantastic with an HPF/LPF right after it to tame the highs. I run mine without an IR though (I see you are experimenting with the Shift Line IR)

 

[chadhargis]

I think the Stomp/Go sounds as good as anything else in the mix. It can be EQ'd to provide just about anything you need.

Did you try the Fullerton Nrm/Studio Tube DI setting I sent over? It sounds fantastic with an HPF/LPF right after it to tame the highs. I run mine without an IR though (I see you are experimenting with the Shift Line IR)

I clicked the link you sent over and the site was down. I tried it a few days ago, so I know the link is good. I'll try again today.

I'm curious to hear more. The HX Stomp seems like it's a bit much for me. I don't know that I need the expression pedal but who knows...

I'm a volume pedal guy. We do a lot of swells in church and one of my basses has V/T V/T with stacked knobs, so I can't easily do swells with just the volume control. Plus, I run my bridge pickup pulled back a bit versus being dimed and trying to fiddle with both knobs and get them back right, while reading a chart, and listening to the band leader is just more than I wanna juggle on stage. A volume pedal is wonderful. It CAN be an expression pedal too...and the beauty thing is there is a switch under the pedal. You push it all the way up and press down and it flips to an expression pedal....or get this....it's 100% totally assignable to modify any parameter you want. Say you want to put in a gain pedal and you want to control the amount of gain as you play....you can to it with the pedal. It's crazy!! Just way too cool.

And I am resisting putting some of my analog gear in the effects loop...which is movable....on the fly if you want....to anywhere in the chain. Wanna move the compressor to the end of your chain versus the front...you can make a snapshot of your patch and with the tap of a foot switch...move your entire board around if that's what you want.

 

[chadhargis]

My floor looks like a mad scientist lab. Lol!

Here's a comparison in size. And weight wise, I'd say the Pod Go is between 3 and 4 pounds. The analog board probably weights 15lbs easily. Maybe more.

Another plus....no worry about bumped knobs when transporting the rig or patch cables. This actually all came about because I have a short in a patch cable in that analog board. I was playing live and my bass dropped out. I kicked the board and I was back in business....now I can't find the offending cable.

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

The formfactor and expression on the go is just about perfect, but having parallel path's on the stomp is still a winner I can't be without.

 

[chadhargis]

The formfactor and expression on the go is just about perfect, but having parallel path's on the stomp is still a winner I can't be without.

I don't use a lot of effects per se. And I have never owned any thing that required or had the ability to do parallel paths. I understand the concept of a wet & dry channel, but I simply never need such thing. I just want a good universal bass tone and the ability to tweak the tone on the fly with the press of a button from song to song. I tried years ago with a MIDI setup, but that was still a mess to configure and get right.

The POD Go is really far more than I need, but for the money, it's a bargain. I can sell off all my analog pedals and put heaps of money in my pocket.

 

[MascisMan]

My floor looks like a mad scientist lab. Lol!

Here's a comparison in size. And weight wise, I'd say the Pod Go is between 3 and 4 pounds. The analog board probably weights 15lbs easily. Maybe more.

Another plus....no worry about bumped knobs when transporting the rig or patch cables. This actually all came about because I have a short in a patch cable in that analog board. I was playing live and my bass dropped out. I kicked the board and I was back in business....now I can't find the offending cable.

View attachment 4190240

If that is a Duo 17, the Pod Go will fit perfectly......allegedly. Plenty of room up top for your clock.

 

[SteveC]

I'm a volume pedal guy. We do a lot of swells in church and one of my basses has V/T V/T with stacked knobs, so I can't easily do swells with just the volume control. Plus, I run my bridge pickup pulled back a bit versus being dimed and trying to fiddle with both knobs and get them back right, while reading a chart, and listening to the band leader is just more than I wanna juggle on stage. A volume pedal is wonderful. It CAN be an expression pedal too...and the beauty thing is there is a switch under the pedal. You push it all the way up and press down and it flips to an expression pedal....or get this....it's 100% totally assignable to modify any parameter you want. Say you want to put in a gain pedal and you want to control the amount of gain as you play....you can to it with the pedal. It's crazy!! Just way too cool.

And I am resisting putting some of my analog gear in the effects loop...which is movable....on the fly if you want....to anywhere in the chain. Wanna move the compressor to the end of your chain versus the front...you can make a snapshot of your patch and with the tap of a foot switch...move your entire board around if that's what you want.

Sure. All my basses have a master volume, but I understand the value of a volume pedal. Both my guitar player and keyboard player have them as part of their rigs. I'd maybe use it more than I think.

Here's a comparison in size. And weight wise, I'd say the Pod Go is between 3 and 4 pounds. The analog board probably weights 15lbs easily. Maybe more.

Another plus....no worry about bumped knobs when transporting the rig or patch cables. This actually all came about because I have a short in a patch cable in that analog board. I was playing live and my bass dropped out. I kicked the board and I was back in business....now I can't find the offending cable.View attachment 4190240

Yeah, I like to be light and lean. And yeah, lots to go wrong with an analog board.

I don't use a lot of effects per se. And I have never owned any thing that required or had the ability to do parallel paths. I understand the concept of a wet & dry channel, but I simply never need such thing. I just want a good universal bass tone and the ability to tweak the tone on the fly with the press of a button from song to song. I tried years ago with a MIDI setup, but that was still a mess to configure and get right.

The POD Go is really far more than I need, but for the money, it's a bargain. I can sell off all my analog pedals and put heaps of money in my pocket.

I get the parallel thing as well, but I don't think it's a real need for me. Like you say, a good bass signal/sound to the board is what I go for. Still not sure I want/need anything more than my REDDI but I am curious. Something like this would be easy to run into the REDDI and out to FOH/IEM. You have a lot of very nice pedals on that board. I'm a little surprised the Pod is doing it for you. Yet, the modeling thing has come a long way and run thru a good DI, it's probably just as good - especially in a live setting.

 

[chadhargis]

You have a lot of very nice pedals on that board. I'm a little surprised the Pod is doing it for you. Yet, the modeling thing has come a long way and run thru a good DI, it's probably just as good - especially in a live setting.

I'm shocked as well. I've fooled with stuff like the Two Notes C.A.B. and it was really good too...but I could never get to a sound I really liked and when I did, it would sound "off" next time I listened to it. It was a lot more complicated to adjust without the software too as the screen was awful.

The POD Go has a DI out, but you have to use a 1/4" balanced to XLR cable. It works fine and there is no noise.

Of course, all you really need is a DI box and go straight to the board. Most mixers are now digital, and all the cab sims, EQ, etc. can be done by the FOH guy on the board. Problem with that is...you have no control over it. I'd rather go the other way and send a tone I like to the board and not have it molested.

Here in Nashville, many of the pro players don't use anything other than a high quality DI. A Fatboy, REDDI, Noble, etc. That's because around here, you have producers and engineers behind the sound board who make the decision on how the bass should sound. They just want the raw tone. But live performance is a different animal, especially if you're doing cover tunes and need to cop that specific tone.

 

[Low Down Brown]

I love my HX Stomp. I run an LA-1A into it and I can cover so much territory with those 2 pedals. The assignable volume pedal is awesome too. I've used it to adjust gain a few times, but mostly I use it to do a lot of slow swells and the Mission Eng. pedal works perfectly with it. I also like being able to patch my C4 or F.I. into the effects loop and place it anywhere I want it in the chain (typically on the front end). And I have to agree with what @MascisMan has said about the Fullerton amp model. It's become one of my favorites and sounds great with the matching 4x10 cab sim and pairs well with other IR's too. I run the whole thing into a LBA T.I. box that feeds amp/FOH and I get compliments all the time on how great the bass sounds.

 

[SteveC]

I'm shocked as well. I've fooled with stuff like the Two Notes C.A.B. and it was really good too...but I could never get to a sound I really liked and when I did, it would sound "off" next time I listened to it. It was a lot more complicated to adjust without the software too as the screen was awful.

The POD Go has a DI out, but you have to use a 1/4" balanced to XLR cable. It works fine and there is no noise.

Of course, all you really need is a DI box and go straight to the board. Most mixers are now digital, and all the cab sims, EQ, etc. can be done by the FOH guy on the board. Problem with that is...you have no control over it. I'd rather go the other way and send a tone I like to the board and not have it molested.

Here in Nashville, many of the pro players don't use anything other than a high quality DI. A Fatboy, REDDI, Noble, etc. That's because around here, you have producers and engineers behind the sound board who make the decision on how the bass should sound. They just want the raw tone. But live performance is a different animal, especially if you're doing cover tunes and need to cop that specific tone.

Yeah, I love my REDDI. I have watched a few videos on the Pod Go and it's pretty nice.

 

[chadhargis]

Alrighty...here's the first clip of the POD Go.

But for fun...I'm not telling you which is which. I spent about 30 minutes or so to come up with a tone that closely matches the Oracle so it will be a fair fight. No cab sims. Just ooey gooey tubey goodness.

Both clips were recorded simultaneously using a JHS buffered splitter sending a signal to each board.

The Oracle signal path is:
Tuner -> Buffer (used to level the signal for various basses) -> LA-1A Comp -> Oracle -> microThumpinator -> RNDI

The Line 6 POD Go path is:
Guitar in jack -> Mono Out Jack -> 1/4" to XLR cable
The modeled effects are:
HPF/LPF -> LA-2A - Fender Tweed Deluxe (yes...I know it's a guitar amp) -> 10 band EQ

You be the judge...which one is which???

Track One

Track Two

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Takin' a chance with my rep...
The lows in #1 are clearer, and I like it better.
I'll guess that their Tweed Deluxe simulation rounds or softens the lows, so my guess is that #2 is the POD thingie.

Well, you "got" me if I'm wrong.

Hey, my 1000th post. I'm "addicted", it says, because of you, thanks!

 

[chadhargis]

Takin' a chance with my rep...
The lows in #1 are clearer, and I like it better.
I'll guess that their Tweed Deluxe simulation rounds or softens the lows, so my guess is that #2 is the POD thingie.

Well, you "got" me if I'm wrong.

Hey, my 1000th post. I'm "addicted", it says, because of you, thanks!

It's too early to give it away just yet. I'm going to let a few more folks take a guess.

But they both sound good. One is a $400 all digital box weighing a few pounds, the other is a massive $2000+ dollar rig weighing north of 15lbs chock full of cables and power wires.

Makes ya scratch yer head don't it?

 

[JKos]

Fender Tweed Deluxe (yes...I know it's a guitar amp)

This is a very important aspect of modelers... Don't be afraid to try any preamp, power amp, speaker cab, mic, etc. together. You never know what you might like.

 

[1983L2000]

This is a very important aspect of modelers... Don't be afraid to try any preamp, power amp, speaker cab, mic, etc. together. You never know what you might like.

Yes, and a lot of those guitar amps have very nice, extended lows. My favorite "tube tone" amps are guitar amps...